THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister Kadakampally Surendran has come out with explanation for his Guruvayur visit after the gesture spurred a controversy. He said as a Devaswom board minister, he had just carried out his responsibility and there was no point in being intolerant to that. He added that all his family members are people who have faith in bhakti institutions.

While welcoming the CPM minister’s visit and offerings to Guruvayur temple on Krishnashtami, BJP said it showed CPM’s double standard.

Kadakampally, who reached the temple early morning, was there till evening. It was he who led the jayanti programmes. He offered Vazhipadu in the name of his family members and donated the balance money to ‘Anna dana’ fund.

BJP also took the opportunity to say that when CPM leaders visited temples and made offering to deity, the party tried to instil atheism in party workers.